Log Cabin Installation Advice for all Log Cabins

Log Cabin Construction and Log Cabin Installation Advice

Log Cabin Installation Advice

This Log Cabin Installation Advice covers ANY building using the Log Construction Method supplied by us including Garages, Saunas, Log Cabins, Summerhouses and Garden Sheds using the same method of interlocking construction.

Please read these log cabin installation advice instructions thoroughly and follow along using the pamphlet and plans that are delivered with your cabin – Example of Instructions.

This instruction advice covers:

Every type of log cabin construction

Log Garages

Log Cabin Summerhouses

Log Sheds

Carports made from logs

Verandas made from logs

Garden Office Log Cabins

All the links throughout this Log Cabin Installation Advice article are extremely relevant to your install – Please make time to read it and fully understand it so as your cabin installation runs smoothly.

Breathe Azores Project Management Service

If you would like for us to manage the installation of your garden building we can offer a project management installation service.

As well as our own fitting service, we also work closely with a few self-employed installers whom we recommend. Being self-employed, their costs are considerably cheaper and come highly recommended.

If you wish to ask installers for a quote for one of our log buildings, the installers details will be forwarded on to you upon request.

Self Installation

We always encourage you to carry out the installation of your new log cabin yourself and we will offer you support throughout the whole process that is if you need it.

The installation of our log cabins is normally pretty easy, however, if there is anything in this article that is not clear, please ask for clarification.

Local Tradesmen

If you are going to use the services of any local tradesmen, please make sure they are given these instructions before working on your building to avoid mistakes in installation.

Also, remember to stress the importance of a 100% completely flat and level base. This is very important!

Installation Help Service

If you have any questions prior to or during the installation of your cabin, please don’t hesitate to send us an email for assistance. We will always try to advise you as quickly as possible. Please make sure to include your name and telephone number.

IMPORTANT – ONLY Follow the Installation plans found inside your log cabin package.

ENSURE you follow the schematic elevations shown below which are found in the plans inside your log cabin package. Everything else is only an example of the log cabin installation methods.

ENSURE you follow the schematic elevations shown below which are found in the plans inside your log cabin package. Everything else is only an example of the log cabin installation methods.

Your log cabin installation plans will only be found inside the main packaging amongst the cabin logs. They will NOT be found on any of the external packagings.

If previously we sent you example plans, please destroy these and ONLY USE THE PLANS SUPPLIED WITH THE CABIN.

Introduction from the Basic Manual supplied WITH your Log Cabin or building using the log construction method.

Your log cabin has been manufactured in an extremely modern factory and has been made with the utmost care and professionalism. It has been manufactured using high quality, slow grown Spruce with a European Standard humidity level of 14%. Your log cabin’s roof has a snow loading calculation of 110 kg/m² – 140 kg/m².

Log Cabin Dimensions

If you have any questions prior to or during the installation of your cabin, please don’t hesitate to send us an email for assistance. We will always try to advise you as quickly as possible. Please make sure to include your name and telephone number.

There are Seven measurements you will be interested in and these dimensions are referred to as:

Log

Interlock

Footprint

Roof

Canopy

Log Thickness

Internal

At the 90 degree corners, it has Wind and Watertight Connections applicable to 28mm log cabins and over.

Wood is a totally natural material and as such, we cannot exclude the possibilities of small cracks appearing on the surface of the wood, shrinkage, bending and warping.

If your log cabin gets wet during the installation, this will not affect the building in any way.

Foundations, Beams and Bases – IMPORTANT

A solid base for your cabin is fundamental to the stability and longevity of your log cabin.

Only a 100% totally level and solid base can ensure a perfect assembly of the wall logs, window frames, doors and roofing components.

The absolute minimum base size required for any log cabin is known as the ‘Footprint’ this measurement is detailed on all our log cabin product pages and within our catalogue.

We strongly advise you to use our specialised foundation beams on which you will build your log cabin. These are available in three different materials:

Impregnated timber

Hardwood

Composite Material

You can also use concrete kerbs, impregnated railway sleepers or high-quality construction bricks.

The purpose of any foundation is to provide a solid and level base on which to build. This will protect the first layer including the doors from contacting with the ground. As standard, you will receive 4.4cm x 7.0cm x 300cm pressure impregnated beams if no other beam style has been ordered.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Foundation Beams go underneath the whole cabin including the doors.

Videos - how best to use the two types of foundation beams.

Standard Foundation Beams

Profiled Foundation Beams

Please also see the notes section for more advice on bases when you are using the profiled foundation beams.

Without a solid base that is completely 100% level and 100% square, you must expect problems with the installation and possibly the longevity of the log cabin.

Log Cabin Delivery and Collection

Your log cabin will be delivered to your nearest shipping port or can be collected from our depot in Santa Maria.

Your cabin will arrive including the main package. All other parts such as the foundation beams, floorboards and roofing materials such as roofing felt, roofing shingles, paints or stains etcetera, will be on top of the main package or on separate pallets. All Nails, Roofing Nails and Tacks will be sent in a separate box. All door and window screws and furniture will be found in the in the main package. Identify all these parts before you commence with your cabin installation.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN – IMPORTANT

The Package Number

Before you begin, it is so important that you identify the unique package number which will be found on the labels, packets and or the plans. Ensure you keep this number safe, write it down, take a picture and save the document as it will be required in the unlikely event that you should need additional or replacement parts or to claim at a later date against faults.

Identify the unique package number which will be found on the labels, packets and or the plans.

Installation of your Log Cabin

Don’t let the sight of all the pieces discourage you.

TOP TIP!

Sort out these parts into sizes and components.

This will make the overall assembly so much simpler and much faster. Use the Log Cabin Installation Plan to identify the individual parts.

Before you commence with the installation, check the parts against the packing list, variations to roofing board quantities may exist but do not worry about this as it does change according to the size of the boards sent with your log cabin. Often there will be packing pieces which can be confusing whilst identifying the logs and boards so, be aware of this.

Tips & Hints for the installation of your log cabin.

The plans you receive will give you a complete outline of the building process, showing you the correct position of each piece. Continue to refer to these plans during your installation.

If you have any questions about the instructions and or installation please contact us, we will be very happy to help. Most of our cabins require basic tools and skills for example:

Ladders

Drills

Saws

Clamps

Hammers

Rubber Mallets

Screwdrivers

Spirit Levels

You need to have a basic knowledge of construction and DIY.

You must have the ability to read the plans and understand orientations and elevations within them.

Each set of plans will show the position of each log size for a particular wall.

You will need an understanding of the inherent properties of timber.

You will also need to use a ladder whilst building your new cabin and be prepared to work at height. You might feel more comfortable using heavy duty stepladders and or scaffolding and harnesses. (We would expect you to have an understanding of this if carrying out the installation yourself.)

You will also need other tools for building such as:

Stanley knives

Pilot drills

Hole drills,

Power tools,

Torx Bits

These are all standard tools the average DIY’er would and should own.

It’s a really good idea to have a few tarpaulins at the ready to cover the cabin packages on delivery in case of any tears in the plastic and for use during the build, helping protect parts such as apexes and purlins from the rain and sun.

Larger log cabins such as The Azores or Kay Log Cabin require a higher level of skill set and DIY Knowledge. They are more difficult to install and should be tackled by an inexperienced installer.

Please email us for more information on what may be required for a more complex install.

Basic Essential Tools Required:

Quality Hand Saw

Screwdriver – A screwdriver will help with an assortment of bits including Torx and posi-drive.

A manual or powered plane for trimming and final finishing at the apex of the roof or where the pent roof joins at the walls

Power tools such as a drill, saw or jigsaw.

Wood glue and pins may also be useful.

A video example of Basic Tools Required for the installation of your new log cabin:

Summary - Quick Guide

Sort and stack the parts into separate piles of the various sizes that make up the cabin as identified in the plans. Make sure they are near to your base.

1. Put the starter logs on the base. There are two half logs and two full logs opposite each other. Then put the foundation beams next to them. Measure them, then cut them and slide them underneath the first logs. The foundation beams go around the outline of the cabin. If necessary, use your rubber mallet to knock the logs into position and continue to use the rubber mallet during the build.

NOTE WELL:The HALF starter log is a log cut in half and has a completely flat bottom. The FULL starter log is a normal log not differing to a standard log.

If you don’t have a rubber mallet and are using a standard steel hammer, DO NOT hit the logs directly. Use a spare piece of wood between the hammer and the log to protect the tongues and facia.

Logs can be hammered everywhere, not just the corners!

2. Make sure that your cabin is level and square. Then and only then can you fix the first half log on to the foundation beams.

Once you reach the fifth level of logs, FULLY square your cabin.

3. During the build of the log cabin regularly check that the base layer is still squared.

Ensure you hammer down the logs adequately as you go. Stop at every layer and check that all the logs are going down correctly. Any slight twists or warps can easily be managed into position using your clamps and your rubber mallet.

4. Construct the walls layer on layer with patience. Take care where you are placing the windows and keep referring to the plans.

In most instances, if you wish, it is possible to instal windows a log higher or lower, refer to your plans to see if this is possible.

5. When you are between layers three to seven, slip the doorframe in place. (Doors and Frames may be in separate packages.)

If required screw the door frames together. It is also a good idea to glue the four parts of the frame once you know their position.

Single doors usually come ready assembled.

With most models of our log cabins, its possible to adjust the hinges ensuring the door fits perfectly.

With most models of log cabins, you can install the windows and doors after the build. Just remove the fascias from one of the sides. This is really useful if you want to protect the windows and doors whilst using ladders etc.

6. Once all of the wall logs have been assembled you can then instal the gables and nail the roof boards into position.

CHECK YOUR PLANS – some log cabins have a bevelled top wall-log.

Afer you instal the gables, instal the purlins (roof rafters). A good quality fitter will always use screws to fix the purlins into place, this adds extra strength and added security.

For apex roofs, we will often screw these together at the ends helping with the installation and preventing them from moving when the purlins are installed. This also benefits the lateral strength and are screwed to a depths of approximately 20mm allowing for movement.

The log cabin roof is completed using tongue and groove roofing boards. When installing these, allow +-2mm for expansion between each of the boards.

The last roofing board will need to be trimmed.

Start the roof board assembly working from the front of the cabin. As you fit each board, continue to verify the edges of the roof boards are in parallel. Make sure and check that the roof boards are positioned to the centre of purlin or roof rafter.

Anticipate having to plane the top wall logs/apexes in together for a perfect fit.

It is nearly impossible to finish one hundred per cent flush due to the variations in the timber, and the timber moisture content of your cabin not to mention your building technique. Ensure all the wall logs are tapped down as well as humanly possible

Ensure there is no rubbish, dirt or between the logs stopping them from settling down into place.

Ensure your base is completely 100% level. If not, this will become quite apparent with the top logs being uneven.

All the roof boards should be fixed using two nails side by side in the top log and where they cross all the roof rafters.

If you are building a flat-roofed cabin the roof gables are more often than not fixed together with screws for the purpose of transportation. You must unscrew these and take them apart in order to place the roof purlins.

Before you start - watch this video

Watch the whole of this video before starting with your log cabin build.

It has loads of useful information including how to fit roofing shingles on apex roofs.

Over ninety-five per cent of the video content is relevant to ALL log cabins including pyramid roof cabins, interlocking carports and garages and flat roof log cabins.

No matter what model of Log Cabin you are about to build, watch it all, right to the very end, it will help to make your install much simpler and much more enjoyable.

We wish you all the very best and hope your instal turns out to be a roaring success. Most importantly, we hope you have a lot of fun during the build and many, many years of enjoyment afterwards. Good luck.